[nagdu] Number of DOGS!

[Cindy Ray]

Oh, I had a way better dog than my first. I might have to agree there was none like her though. LOL.

CL

On Aug 17, 2013, at 6:24 PM, Buddy Brannan <buddy at brannan.name> wrote:

> Believe me, I understand. There’s always that one special dog, and none is like your first. 
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 17, 2013, at 6:43 PM, Ken Ace <ken at acenovels.com> wrote:
> 
>> I truly appreciate your candor. I have bonded sooo closely to this being I
>> just can't imagine my life without him. I know how that sounds and I am not
>> prone to depression, I am a DAV with 50 surgeries under my belt so I can
>> handle adversity like the rest of us. But this dog is truly special.
>> Thanks,
>> K&A
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
>> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 6:36 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Number of DOGS!
>> 
>> So, I'm really not sure why schools are still setting expectations for an
>> average working life of 8-10 years. If you ere told to expect 10 years,
>> while this may be something your dog can deliver, I'd say that in general,
>> this isn't, on average, very realistic. My experience, and informal
>> observations as long as I've been a guide dog owner, tells me that 6-8 years
>> is more realistic. While I think 8-10 years may well have been the norm in
>> days past, a combination of generally softer dogs, plus faster, more hectic
>> and stressful working conditions, quieter and faster traffic, all contribute
>> to on average shorter working careers. Both of my previous dogs each worked
>> roughly 6 and a half years each, and I felt privileged and pleased to have
>> gotten that amount of service from them. So, just saying, if you get fewer
>> than 10 years, don't by any means feel cheated. 
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Aug 17, 2013, at 6:13 PM, Ken Ace <ken at acenovels.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> I was going to wait till tomorrow to broach this subject but in 
>>> listening to members I have noticed that several of you are on your 4th,
>> 5th or 6th dog.
>>> Ace will be four in Jan. and I sincerely hope he out lives me.
>>> 
>>> How long have your dogs lasted in service. I was led to believe that I 
>>> could expect ten good years of service. I am pushing 73 and frankly 
>>> can't imagine another dog.
>>> 
>>> Perhaps I was very lucky in getting Ace because he is very close to
>> perfect.
>>> 
>>> K&A
>>> 
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> 
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